MIAMI: American Sloane Stephens had cause for a double celebration Tuesday after beating Germany’s Angelique Kerber 6-1, 6-2 to set up a Miami Open semi-final clash with former world number one Victoria Azarenka.
The US 13th seed’s comprehensive triumph in tricky wind conditions over the former world number one ensured Stephens reached the last four at Key Biscayne for the first time. It also means the reigning US Open champion will finally be named in the world’s top 10 when the WTA release their rankings next week.
She will meet two-time Australian Open champion Azarenka for a place in Saturday’s final after the Belarusian beat fifth-seeded Karolina Pliskova 7-5, 6-3. Azarenka, meanwhile, is enjoying her best tournament run since the birth of her first child last December and faces Stephens just three weeks after the pair met in Indian Wells, a match won by the American 6-1, 7-5.
In an error strewn clash with world number six Pliskova, Azarenka , who was given a wildcard into the tournament thanks to a ranking of 186, was broken when serving for the first set only to break back straight away and take control.
The pattern continued at the start of the second, yet the 28-year-old held her nerve to reach the last four of a tournament she won in 2009, 2011 and 2016 and complete a return to the top 100 when the WTA rankings are updated this Monday. Stephens’ previous best here came with a quarter-final run in 2015, so the emotions on display at the end of what was an ultimately straightforward win over the world number 10 were understandable.
Since her debut Grand Slam triumph at the US Open last September, the 25-year-old has struggled to follow on. Stephens arrived at Key Biscayne having not beaten a top-50 player since the run at Flushing Meadows.But this week has seen the American, who was raised in South Florida, get back to her roots — and to winning ways.
Reigning Wimbledon champion Garbine Muguruza was emphatically dispatched in straight sets Monday before Kerber received similar treatment.Wind hampered both players, but it was Stephens who adapted far better — the power of her groundstrokes and superior movement leaving Kerber frustrated and unable to find a way into the encounter.
Stephens took just 23 minutes to wrap up the first set as Kerber looked sluggish from the start. Kerber was deep in conversation with coach Wim Fissette during the break, being urged to assert herself.
Kerber saved four break points in the fifth game but Stephens was did not allow her opponent into the match and a 22nd winner sealed the triumph. Kerber admitted coming through a grueling three-set win over qualifier Wang Yafan the day before had left her flat.
WTA and ATP Miami Open results (x denotes seeding): Men 4th rd: Pablo Carreno-Busta (ESP x16) bt Fernando Verdasco (ESP x31) 6-0, 6-3, Kevin Anderson (RSA x6) bt Frances Tiafoe (USA) 7-6 (7/3), 6-4
Alexander Zverev (GER x4) bt Nick Kyrgios (AUS x17) 6-4, 6-4
Borna Coric (CRO x29) bt Denis Shapovalov (CAN) 7-6 (7/2), 4-6, 6-4
Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG x5) bt Filip Krajinovic (SRB x22) 6-4, 6-2
Milos Raonic (CAN x20) bt Jeremy Chardy (FRA) 6-3, 6-4
Chung Hyeon (KOR x19) bt Joao Sousa (POR) 6-4, 6-3
John Isner (USA x14) bt Marin Cilic (CRO x2) 7-6 (7/0), 6-3
3rd rd: Frances Tiafoe (USA) bt Tomas Berdych (CZE x10) 6-7 (2/7), 6-2, 7-6 (7/1)
Women Quarter-finals: Victoria Azarenka (BLR) bt Karolina Pliskova (CZE x5) 7-5, 6-3
Sloane Stephens (USA x13) bt Angelique Kerber (GER x10) 6-1, 6-2.